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hannahbailey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Sadly I really struggled with this. The writing was very juvenile/wattpad-like in the sense that the prose was incredibly clunky and the secondary characters were underdeveloped. There were lots of filler chapters which really dragged and then conflict was resolved unrealistically quickly over a couple of pages. The plot didn’t seem well thought out and I was confused by the quick ‘twist’ and ending. Characters would mysteriously disappear during a scene only to save the day a few pages later with no explanation - there were lots of moments when I thought ‘wait, weren’t you here the whole time’?? The immaturity of the dialogue made this book feel more middle-grade to me, however I can see why it’s aimed at an older audience because of the graphic/heavy themes. Overall, I’m just surprised this got through the editing stages given how under-edited it feels 😔
TW: transphobia, death, death of parent, murder, violence, knife crime, blood, animal death, gore
TW: transphobia, death, death of parent, murder, violence, knife crime, blood, animal death, gore
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
agnela's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
What a disappointment. I thought this will be Latin American inspired Supernatural but queer. And it actually was all that, but lacking interest and quality characters, as well as lack in the world building and magical system.
Maybe im too old but I think there are more important things in the world than to prove yourself, for example, actually deeply caring for your family member who you know through supernatural ties, is dead and missing. Or not holding a hot ghost boy on earth if he asks you to release his spirit just because you don't want to.
And how about actually making the last big sacrifice count, huh? How about we don't fix everything just because we have magic, how about if a character does this huge thing and finally does something selfishly unselfish, we let them have it, and if they're saved, we make sure there's consequences?
I missed explanations about the magical system. Indeed it was explained shallowly and the plot moved on. But I would have loved to actually explore tradition, how it changed, how the old traditions of native Latin Americans who worshipped a death goddess were influenced by Catholicism, why it's a danger and a rosary and not something more pagan and ancient. Why men's magical item had pagan roots while women's took a more modern approach.
It felt like the author loved her characters and the plot a bit too much to make it interesting, as a self insert usually keeps you from doing it.
Maybe im too old but I think there are more important things in the world than to prove yourself, for example, actually deeply caring for your family member who you know through supernatural ties, is dead and missing. Or not holding a hot ghost boy on earth if he asks you to release his spirit just because you don't want to.
And how about actually making the last big sacrifice count, huh? How about we don't fix everything just because we have magic, how about if a character does this huge thing and finally does something selfishly unselfish, we let them have it, and if they're saved, we make sure there's consequences?
I missed explanations about the magical system. Indeed it was explained shallowly and the plot moved on. But I would have loved to actually explore tradition, how it changed, how the old traditions of native Latin Americans who worshipped a death goddess were influenced by Catholicism, why it's a danger and a rosary and not something more pagan and ancient. Why men's magical item had pagan roots while women's took a more modern approach.
It felt like the author loved her characters and the plot a bit too much to make it interesting, as a self insert usually keeps you from doing it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
ofpagesandparagraphs's review
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Transphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Deadnaming
hobbithopeful's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book was such a treat to read, I've been hearing about it forever, so to finally be able to read it after waiting A MILLION YEARS on the library waitlist was so worth it! (Seriously y'all, it was worth it!)
Cemetery Boys follows Yadriel, a young trans brujo who just wants to be seen by his parents and community. When he tries to summon a spirit, instead he ends up with a ghost who refuses to leave. Julian is loud, brash, and refuses to leave until his unfinished business is taken care of.
I loved everything about this story, it is so great to see books with queer Latinx representation. (So my review is deeply biased, apologies dear readers)
Julian really grew on me, he was so charming and full of life. I went from rolling my eyes and being annoyed at him, to chuckling and smiling whenever he was on the page. All the food descriptions had my stomach growling! I actually went to go buy some pan dulce at the store after finishing the book.
I highly recommend this book! Ghosts, gays, and romance!
Cemetery Boys follows Yadriel, a young trans brujo who just wants to be seen by his parents and community. When he tries to summon a spirit, instead he ends up with a ghost who refuses to leave. Julian is loud, brash, and refuses to leave until his unfinished business is taken care of.
I loved everything about this story, it is so great to see books with queer Latinx representation. (So my review is deeply biased, apologies dear readers)
Julian really grew on me, he was so charming and full of life. I went from rolling my eyes and being annoyed at him, to chuckling and smiling whenever he was on the page. All the food descriptions had my stomach growling! I actually went to go buy some pan dulce at the store after finishing the book.
I highly recommend this book! Ghosts, gays, and romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, Xenophobia, and Abandonment
birdie770's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident, Dysphoria, and Deportation
rachelgreenreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book was so sweet!! It was a lovely celebration of diverse Latinx identities, as well as transness and queerness. The plot was fun and mysterious, although a bit predictable. I loved that the book covered some challenging topics, while still feeling like real conversations between teens. For example, I loved that as Yadriel struggled to be accepted as a brujo, Julian challenged the gendered nature of the brujx powers, and whose approval and acceptance were valued above others.
It also gave Encanto vibes in that way: balancing tradition and progress, and older generations taking responsibility for the harms that occur as a result of their power structures (in the case of Tío Catriz) .
Overall a really great read.
It also gave Encanto vibes in that way: balancing tradition and progress, and older generations taking responsibility for the harms that occur as a result of their power structures
Overall a really great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Deadnaming
purplepickle's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Transphobia, Blood, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Deportation
Minor: Animal death, Deadnaming, and Injury/Injury detail
thattinyone's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Deadnaming, Self harm, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
tangleroot_eli's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
I spent the whole epilogue of this book crying. Then I just laid there staring at the sky, not really thinking anything, just... being. This is a beautiful book, and I'm so, so glad to have read it.
And, you know, at first "everyone lives" felt like a pulled punch of an ending. Surely, in a book literally about priestexes of death, someone has to die for everything to work out. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that, no. Thomas chose the exact right ending. In a world where queer and trans characters, especially those who are also people of the global majority, die more often than they live, and where, let's face it, real life isn't working out much better for queer and trans people, a book where the queer characters not only live but triumph and flourish and show the cishets a thing or two? Yeah. That's exactly the ending this book needed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Deadnaming, Medical content, and Dysphoria
Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia
wlreed312's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is probably a case of I'm not the target audience for this book, because while I enjoyed it I didn't love it. There was a lot about it I did love, including the way Julien consistently champions Yadriel. The representation is wonderful, the family dynamic is excellent, and there are bits that made me smile so much it made my face hurt.
But a lot of the plot was just...OK for me. The villain (I guessed very early on who it was) was underdeveloped and I felt a little underwhelmed in the end. I also wasn't a fan of the way the mystery part of the plot was just sort of abandoned for a bit. I think it makes sense in terms of teenage boys but there was a good size chunk where I was going "What about Miguel?" And there were times when the word choices used for things took me completely out of the story. Ultimately an enjoyable read, but not as great as I thought it would be.
But a lot of the plot was just...OK for me. The villain (I guessed very early on who it was) was underdeveloped and I felt a little underwhelmed in the end. I also wasn't a fan of the way the mystery part of the plot was just sort of abandoned for a bit. I think it makes sense in terms of teenage boys but there was a good size chunk where I was going "What about Miguel?" And there were times when the word choices used for things took me completely out of the story. Ultimately an enjoyable read, but not as great as I thought it would be.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, and Homophobia